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TAKE

TAKE

  • Last updated on

Description

Use this function to extract a specified number of rows or columns from the beginning or end of a range or array.

Syntax

TAKE(array, rows, [columns])

Inputs

This function accepts the following argument:

Name Required Description Valid Input
array Yes The range or array to extract from. A cell, a cell range, a dynamic array or a formula which results in any of these.
rows Yes Number of rows to extract. Positive for top rows, negative for bottom rows. An integer, a reference to a cell containing an integer, or a formula which results in either of these.
[columns] No Number of columns to extract. Positive for left columns, negative for right columns. An integer, a reference to a cell containing an integer, or a formula which results in either of these.

Examples

Sample data

A B C D  
1 Name Age City Salary  
2 John 35 New York 75000  
3 John 35 New York 75000  
4 Alice 28 Chicago 65000  
5 Bob 42 San Francisco 85000  

Sample formulas

Use case Formula Explanation and Result
Extract the first two rows from a data set. =TAKE(A1:D5, 2)

This formula creates a new data set containing the first two rows from the source data set. For this data set the formula would return the following:

Name Age City Salary  
John 35 New York 75000  
Extract the last two rows from a data set. =TAKE(A1:D5, -2)

This formula creates a new data set containing the last two rows from the source data set. For this data set the formula would return the following:

Alice 28 Chicago 65000  
Bob 42 San Francisco 85000  
Extract the first two rows and the first two columns from a data set. =TAKE(A1:D5, 2, 2)

This formula creates a new data set containing the first two rows and the first two columns from the source data set. Result:

Name Age  
John 35  
Extract the first two rows and the last two columns from a data set. =TAKE(A1:D5, 2, -2)

This formula creates a new data set containing the first two rows and the last two columns from the source data set. Result:

City Salary  
New York 75000  
Extract the first three UNIQUE rows from the dataset.
Note: If there are fewer unique rows than the specified number, then all the unique rows are returned.		 =TAKE(UNIQUE(A1:D5), 3)

This formula creates a new data set containing the first two UNIQUE rows from the source data set, even though three were specified (there were only two rows that met the criteria). 
Result:

Name Age City Salary  
John 35 New York 75000  
Alice 28 Chicago 65000  

Notes

  • As with all array functions, TAKE dynamically populates results across adjacent cells, starting from the cell containing the TAKE function.
  • TAKE:
    • Extracts rows or columns from start or end of array.
    • Supports positive (start) and negative (end) row/column selection.
    • Can extract both rows and columns simultaneously.

Tips

  • If you have header row(s), start your array values one row down (for example in the data set above, start with A2 rather than A1) if you don't want the headers to be included.
  • TAKE can be combined with:
    • FILTER: To extract top/bottom rows after filtering.
    • SORT: To extract rows after sorting data.
    • UNIQUE: To extract unique rows or columns. This is useful for:
      • Removing duplicates.
      • Sampling distinct data points.
      • Analyzing unique records.
    • SEQUENCE: To extract a sequence.

Related functions

Here are the other array formula functions supported in Workiva spreadsheets. 

DescriptionUse this function to extract a specified number of rows or columns from the beginning or end of a range or...